Switch mechanism and electronic device

Abstract

A switch mechanism has improved switch button durability and operational feeling. Constitution and assembly are simplified. A switch mechanism includes a wiring board having first and second electrodes; a switch button; a conductor arranged at a position that corresponds to the first and second electrodes; and a supporting plate, arranged such that the conductor is disposed between the wiring board and the supporting plate and provided with a protruding section at a position that corresponds to the switch button. When the switch button is not depressed, the conductor contacts only the second electrode without contacting the first electrode. When the switch button is depressed, the conductor contacts the first electrode by being supported by the protruding section, the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected by the conductor, and the protruding section is displaced in a direction the switch button is depressed, with depressing of the switch button.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A switch mechanism comprising:
 a switch button(s) receiving a depressing operation;   a supporting plate having a protruding section at a location corresponding to said switch button; and   a switching structure disposed between said switch button and said supporting plate and whose electrical conduction state is switched by said protruding section in a state where said switch button is depressed; wherein   said protruding section is displaced in a direction in which said switch button is depressed in the state where said switch button is depressed.   
     
     
         32 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 31 , wherein
 said switching structure comprises a wiring board having a first electrode and a second electrode on one surface and a conductor disposed facing said one surface of said wiring board; and   said conductor does not electrically connect said first and said second electrodes in a non-depressed state of said switch button and electrically connect said first and said second electrodes by being supported by said protruding section in a depressed state of said switch button.   
     
     
         33 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 31 , wherein the displacement of said protruding section is restored when the depressed state of said switch button is cancelled. 
     
     
         34 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said protruding section is displaced by 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm in the direction in which said switch button is depressed in the depressed state of said switch button. 
     
     
         35 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said supporting plate comprises a thin portion, having a thickness thinner than other region(s), formed so as to be bent in the depressed state of said switch button in at least one region surrounding said protruding section. 
     
     
         36 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 35 , wherein said thin portion is formed adjacent to said protruding section and surrounding said protruding section. 
     
     
         37 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 35 , wherein said thin portion is formed surrounding said protruding section without being adjacent to said protruding section. 
     
     
         38 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 35 , wherein said thin portion comprises at least one through hole. 
     
     
         39 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 35 , wherein said supporting plate is made of stainless steel and said thin portion has a thickness of is 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. 
     
     
         40 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 35 , wherein
 said conductor is dish-shaped and its concave portion faces said wiring board; and   said conductor contacts said first electrode by having a part of said concave portion of said conductor elevated in a direction of said wiring board due to pressure from said protruding section in the depressed state of said switch button.   
     
     
         41 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 35 , wherein said switch button is made of resin. 
     
     
         42 . An electronic device comprising a switch mechanism; wherein
 said switch mechanism comprises: a switch button receiving a depressing operation, a supporting plate having a protruding section at a location(s) corresponding to said switch button, and a switching structure disposed between said switch button and said supporting plate and whose electrical conduction state is switched by said protruding section in a state where said switch button is depressed; and   said protruding section is displaced in a direction in which said switch button is depressed in the state where said switch button is depressed.   
     
     
         43 . The electronic device as defined in  claim 42 , wherein
 said switching structure comprises a wiring board having a first electrode and a second electrode on one surface and a conductor disposed facing said one surface of said wiring board; and   said conductor does not electrically connect said first and said second electrodes in a non-depressed state of said switch button, and electrically connect said first and said second electrodes by being supported by said protruding section in the depressed state of said switch button.   
     
     
         44 . The electronic device as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said supporting plate is a part of a case housing internal parts of the electronic device. 
     
     
         45 . The electronic device as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said supporting plate comprises a thin portion, having a thickness thinner than other regions, formed so as to be bent in the depressed state of said switch button in at least one region surrounding said protruding section. 
     
     
         46 . The electronic device as defined in  claim 45 , wherein said thin portion comprises at least one through hole. 
     
     
         47 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the displacement of said protruding section is restored when the depressed state of said switch button is cancelled. 
     
     
         48 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said protruding section is displaced by 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm in the direction in which said switch button is depressed in the depressed state of said switch button. 
     
     
         49 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 33 , wherein said protruding section is displaced by 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm in the direction in which said switch button is depressed in the depressed state of said switch button. 
     
     
         50 . The switch mechanism as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said supporting plate comprises a thin portion, having a thickness thinner than other region(s), formed so as to be bent in the depressed state of said switch button in at least one region surrounding said protruding section.